Emerson's Restaurant

Wining and dining

Few restaurants are as perfectly situated as the gorgeous Emerson’s Café and Restaurant. Located in the heart of the Hunter Valley, surrounded by acres of vineyards, this charming establishment is one of the best places to go in the area for a beautiful meal in a beautiful setting. Go for lunch and ask for a table out on the verandah so you can embrace the full experience of an alfresco meal. Order up some lovely wine (you’re in the Hunter Valley, after all) then tuck into some of chef Emerson Rodriguez’s divine creations. Nibble on some spiced pumpkin fritters that come with a mint yoghurt dipping sauce, twirl your way through a bowl of fresh seafood spaghettini with garlic and chilli or dig right into some slow cooked lamb shoulder with orecchiette and spinach. If you have the time (and the appetite) you should definitely consider trying the chef’s degustation menu. While lunch sittings make the most of the beautiful outdoor setting, breakfast and dinner at Emerson’s are just as good.

Best dish: venison carpaccio